Steel tire cord assembly

ABSTRACT

A wire assembly particularly useful as a packaging and transport assembly for steel tire cord is disclosed.

Umted States Patent 1191 1111 3,836,426

Barnett 1 1 Sept. 17, 1974 [5 STEEL TIRE CORD ASSEMBLY 3,290,854 12/1966 MacMurray 161 144 3,307,690 3/1967 Bond et al. 161/144 [75] Inventor: Thomas Barnett Ralelgh 3,472,730 10/1969 Frigstad 161/144 [73] Assignee: Monsanto Com St Louis, 3,649,434 3/1972 Monenson 161 /60 [22] Filed: Dec. 29, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 319,257 Primary ExaminerWilliam J. Van Balen [52] US. Cl 161/170, 156/179, 161/60,

161/143, 161/148, 161/216 [51] Int. C1. B32b 5/16, D04h 1/74 57 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 161/60, 142, 143, 144,

A.w1re assembly partlcularly useful as a packagmg and [56] References Cited transport assembly for steel tire cord is disclosed.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,214,320 10/1965 Lappala et a1. 161/143 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEU SEPI um STEEL TIRE CORD ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a wire assembly wherein a plurality of wires in parallel spaced relationship are sandwiched between two thermoplastic films and the films are bonded together at intervals along the space or rivet between adjacent wires. Wire can be conveniently packaged and transported in this form. When wire is fed to the calendering operation where rubber is coated about the wire the thermoplastic films can be stripped away.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic of the process for making the wire assembly of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating the use ofa steel tire cord assembly of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the wire assembly of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a section view of a wire assembly of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1 a plurality of spaced parallel wires is passed between grooved guide rolls 4 and on to a second set of guide rolls 6. Thermoplastic film 7, slightly wider than the width of the several wires, taken from supply rolls 8 and 10 is passed into the second set of guide rolls 6. The layered assembly from guide rolls 6 is passed on to a pair of meshed rolls 12 and 14. Roll 12 has heated spikes 16 at spaced intervals. The hot spikes 16 mesh with the surface of roll 14 along the spaces or rivets between the wires and heat bonds the two thermoplastic films situated therebetween. The bonded assembly 18 is then passed between the nip of rolls 20 to a take-up roll 22.

FIGS. 3 and 4 depictdifferent views of the assembly wherein wires 2 are situated in spaced parallel relationship, desirably along a common plane, between films 7 having bonds 24 at desired intervals along the spaces 26 between the wires. If desired, a continuous selvedge bond can be made between the two films at the outermost wires.

FIG. 2 depicts a particular use of the assembly of this invention wherein the assembly 18 is taken from takeup rolls passed between guide rolls 26 and 28 after which the film 7 is stripped from both sides of the wire by stripper rolls 30. The wire 2 is then passed into calendar 32 where it is coated with rubber on both sides. Although the invention finds particular use as a steel tire cord packaging and delivery system, it may be used for wires, strands and cables of other metals as well.

The nature of the thermoplastic films is not critical as long as they possess sufficient tensile properties to hold the assembly together and can be bonded by thermal or ultrasonic bonding techniques. Polyethylene and polypropylene film are desirable thermoplastic films for use in this invention. If desired the film can have incorporated various antioxidants, antiozonants, UV stabilizers and the like for the protection of the wire.

I claim:

1. A wire assembly comprising a first thermoplastic film and a second film having a plurality of wires in spaced parallel relationship therebetween, said first and second film being bonded together at intervals between the spaced wires.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the wires are steel cords.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the films are polyethylene or polypropylene films. 

1. A wire assembly comprising a first thermoplastic film and a second film having a plurality of wires in spaced parallel relationship therebetween, said first and second film being bonded together at intervals between the spaced wires.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the wires are steel cords.
 3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the films are polyethylene or polypropylene films. 